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How Much Does It Cost to Open Sit Means Sit Franchise?

Do you want to open a dog training business by buying Sit Means Sit franchise? If YES, here is how much it cost to open a Sit Means Sit franchise successfully. Sit Means Sit franchisees provide obedience and behaviour training for dogs, including pets, puppies, hunting dogs, police K-9s and service dogs. These businesses can also offer boarding and sale of collars and other pet products. The company is based in Las Vegas, Nevada, and began franchising in 2009.

Sit Means Sit offers a wonderful opportunity for a buyer to acquire an existing and established dog training franchise in North Fort Myers and Cape Coral. The company boasts of a unique and proven system that delivers immediate results to its many clients.

Included in the price is the transfer fee plus 3 week (21 day) school to certify as a franchise owner and trainer at corporate headquarters in Las Vegas. Coupled with the current loyal customer base, there is a huge growth potential in this location.

Sit Means Sit, one of the biggest US-based dog training businesses, has a dog training franchise program in the fastest growing franchise sector in the pet-related industry. Founded in 2008, Sit Means Sit is the market leader in Dog Training Franchises and currently has as many as 127 franchisees in the system.

Fred Hassen founded Sit Means Sit dog training system, and over the years this system has been studied, tested, proven to provide immediate results in the dog’s ability to maintain focus to the task at hand even around distractions in a non-confrontational way.

The pet products and services industry has exploded in recent years. More than 60% of U.S. households own pets, and Americans will spend an expected $40 billion on pet-related products and services this year alone. Pet owners treat their pets like their first-born children these days.

This company not only offers an intensive three-week training program for franchisees at their corporate headquarters in Las Vegas, Nevada, they also offer extensive on-going support. All franchisees receive all the training methods, business support and information developed over years of success.

Sit Means Sit also provides branding, advertising and marketing help, sales training, add-on products and more. In addition, Sit Means Sit hosts five regional seminar classes, one national seminar and many other educational seminars each year for its franchisees only and also posts several podcasts for their franchisees only every year.

Financial Requirements of Opening a Sit Means Sit Franchise

Sit Means Sit is one of the most unique and successful franchises in the United States. If you are looking to acquire this franchise, here are fees to consider.

1. Initial Fee:  $15,000

Sit Means Sit may agree to finance all or part of this amount.

2. Real Property and Leasehold Improvements:  $0 to $15,000

  • The low estimate assumes that you will operate out of your residence without a formal Training Facility, so you will incur no rental charges or construction costs.
  • But if you operate from a separate facility, locations might include strip malls or light industrial or commercial zones in which you will typically lease unimproved and unfurnished retail store front or warehouse space.
  • In terms of a leased Training Facility, you can expect to prepay first and last months’ rent (which Sit Means Sit estimates will total about $6,000) and spend an additional $6,000 to $9,000 to construct and improve the space before opening. These figures are represented in the high estimate and based on a facility ranging in size from 1,000 square feet to 3,500 square feet in Las Vegas, Nevada.
  • Nonetheless, rent tend to vary widely and is dependent upon factors such as size, location, demand, general economic conditions of the town or city in which your Training Facility is located, the condition of the premises, and lease negotiation rent reductions.
  • The exact cost for real estate improvements will depend upon the size of the space, the condition of the premises, landlord construction allowances, the cost of hiring any necessary subcontractors, and costs of materials. This amount also may include the purchase of heating, ventilating, and/or air conditioning systems for the Business.

3. Equipment, Supplies, Materials, and Signs:  $300 to $1,000

4. Sit Means Sit Vehicles:  $400 to $23,500

  • You can acquire or lease one or more Vehicles meeting Sit Means Sit’s policies and specifications.
  • The low estimate assumes that you already own a suitable vehicle and use minor decaling.
  • Promptly following the lease of your Vehicle(s), you are expected to make certain modifications and additions to the Vehicle(s) as Sit Means Sit requires, including installing decals, logos, and racks.

5. Computer Hardware and Software:  $900 to $5,000

6. Initial Training Fee: $0 to $22,50

  • The company will train one person at no additional charge (excluding a transferee).
  • The low estimate assumes you will only have one trainee, and will incur no additional charge for training, and the high estimate contemplates the Initial Training Fee for a second trainee.
  • You are expected to pay an Initial Training Fee of $2,500 for the second and each additional person to attend the Initial Training Program (all transferees will pay these amounts). For the second and each additional person you bring to training, you are expected to also pay Sit Means Sit a housing fee of $45 per day for each day that person attends training.

7. Wages, Travel, and Living Expenses During Training:  $620 to $3,680

  • You are expected to pay the expenses of all persons attending the Initial Training Program including transportation.
  • The low estimate assumes travel-related costs to train one person for 21 days in Las Vegas, Nevada and that you are within driving distance and incur $200 for gas.
  • The high estimate assumes two persons and those they will travel by air and incur $1,000 in airfare, meals, and wages.

8. Opening Inventory Collars:  $630 to $1,570

9. Pre-Opening Advertising (includes brochures, business cards, magnets):  $200 to $700

10. Insurance Deposits and Premiums:  $150 to $3,300

  • This is an estimated down payment against the annual premiums you are expected to pay for the insurance required under the License Agreement and Manuals. This estimate is for workers’ compensation, errors and omissions, automobile, and comprehensive general liability insurance.
  • Note that the exact dollar amount of your insurance payment will be determined by the geographic location of the Business and the number of employees you are covering.

11. Licenses and Permits:  $25 to $700

12. Professional Fees:  $0 to $3,000

13. Demonstration Dog:  $50 to $7,500

Sit Means Sit mandates you to have a “demonstration dog,” trained with the company’s methods, for use in marketing your business. The range reflected above contemplates your either paying adoption fees for a dog, which are generally around $50, or your buying a dog for your business, which can be as much as $7,500.

14. Additional Funds – 3 Months:  $2,400 to $11,400

  • Note that these amounts are the minimum recommended levels to cover your operating expenses for three months, assuming no revenue during this period. They cover monthly telephone charges, Sit Means Sit’s minimum fees, and fuel for your vehicle to conduct marketing.
  • Since Sit Means Sit does not expect most licensees to lease a formal Training Facility, the low figure does not include rent. If you do rent a facility, you should expect approximately an additional $9,000 for 3 months rent (which is included in the high estimate).
  • Also note that these figures do not include any provision for your salary or living expenses, nor do they contemplate that you will hire a separate trainer or incur other employee wages.
  • The company does not generally suggest paid media advertising, so these estimates do not contemplate media advertising.

Total Estimated Initial Investment:  $21,125 to $93,850

Steps on How to Open a Sit Means Sit Franchise

Sit Means Sit Franchise, Inc. is the franchisor. The franchise offered is for the operation of a dog training business using the “Sit Means Sit” system and standards. If you are interested, here are key steps to take:

1. Read the FDD

Carefully read the FDD from cover-to-cover to understand what the brand is all about, its focus, build-out and running cost estimates, profit potential, your responsibilities to the franchise, and any liabilities such as outstanding or past lawsuits and trademarks.

2. Speak With Franchisees

It is advisable you talk with other franchisees with the company to hear their firsthand experiences with owning the franchise. Ask about what a typical day is like and did they feel they made a good choice. Try to get a feeling for the experience of the franchise’s ownership team and ask if they feel the FDD paints an accurate picture of what to expect. See if they will share information about profit margins.

3. Visit a Location

At this point, ask the franchise to arrange for you to visit an existing location and ideally for the ownership team to tour it with you. You’ll learn a lot from touring the location and speaking with its owner or manager. If you can arrange to see more than one location, do so.

4. Go to Discovery Day

This is the time to meet in person with the leadership team of the franchise to understand their expertise and to get a better feeling of the future direction of the franchise.

5. Hire a Franchise Coach

Consider working with a coach to help you understand your skills and interests, and also help you channel them into growing your business. Be open to reviewing opportunities from sectors you hadn’t considered, but are a good match for you.

Conclusion

Americans spend billions of dollars on their furry family members. This is an ideal time to capitalize on the growing demand for pet related services. A wonderful way to do so is by investing in a pet franchise like Sit Means Sit. This company will provide you with a proven business system and the support you need to be successful if you have ensured the franchise model is a good one by doing extensive due diligence.